Imprisoned by secrets

Chapter 6

Fifteen years ago...

"What on earth is that?" Beatrice asked, ensuring she was as sarcastic as possible. It sounded more like 'why are you shoving your smelly armpit into my nose?'.

The look of disgust on her face was undisguised. Any normal person would have been disheartened by her cold gaze but not Ethan. He smiled happily. He didn't seem to care that she didn't look excited about his gift.

Then again, Beatrice never got excited. She was as warm as ice. Nothing ever seemed to fascinate her apart from her books.

"It's a flower, princess," Ethan smirked.

He was happy to note she had a large vein popping out on the side of her neck. He knew she hated it when he called her 'princess'. It was the only way he could effectively make her eyes flare up angrily and get any form of emotion from her even if it involved violence.

She'd vowed many times that she'd pluck out his eyes balls, fry them and force him to eat it for speaking to her with such a derogatory tone but she hadn't done it yet because it'd mean leaving her books.

Ethan half expected her to ignore him or give him a vicious glare. He was happy when she opened her mouth to speak.

"Of course I can see what it is, you simpleton! Didn't I tell you I didn't want to be bothered today?" Beatrice snapped.

"You only mentioned something about your dad being on a trip to Spain." Ethan shrugged.

"Shouldn't that have let you know I wouldn't want to be disturbed?Why on earth are you giving me this ridiculous excuse of a gift?" Beatrice snarled.

"To say thank you. You've been teaching me for two years now and I'm almost at the top of my class." He gave her a devilish grin. If she hadn't been so irritated, she would have noticed he was extremely handsome. 

Beatrice glanced at the flower then back at him.
"Why are you giving me a dead thing as a token of appreciation?" Beatrice wondered if she needed to get his parents to check his head.

"It's a flower. Girls love flowers." He said.

Beatrice increased the intensity of her glare at the sound of that. It was like he had kicked her puppy.

"Have you finally taken leave of your senses? How many times do I have to tell you not to generalize and assume things based on an idiotic stereotype? I have been your tutor for two years, yet you know practically nothing about me! You should be smart enough to know what I'd like, simpleton." She rolled her eyes.

The boy cleared his throat.
"Do you know what I like?" He asked hopefully. If she gave the right reply, it'd mean that she was paying attention to him.

"As a matter of fact, I do. Which is why I brought you this." She threw him a packet of berries.

"Score!!!!" He said, happy with his gift like a child on Christmas Day. He kept looking at her hopefully.

"You're interrupting and pestering me like an annoying fly. I'd hoped the berries would distract you but I was mistaken. What is it that you want?" She sighed.

Ethan smiled chagrined. She had noticed him after all.

"Tell me about your last day at school before the midterm. Hearing about your day is the closest thing I can get to royalty." He asked eagerly.

"You're such a simpleton. Asides from all the fascinating school work, my colleagues and I had a meeting with the PTA." Beatrice said.

"Oh....why?" Ethan asked. His mouth was slightly opened. Beatrice liked how he hung onto every word she said.